2013 Annual Moving Target Award

[jasonc]

yay I get to join

first swoop today on the way home this arvo down my own street less than 100m from home
I think this bird was in a different tree around the corner last year.

great

previous total: 0
new points: 1
new total: 1

[coffeeandwine]

Same spot, same bird...did 4 laps of the nationals road course with a mate yesterday. No sign of the maggie on the first early lap (must have had a sleep in after a bad night in 90kmh winds) but then he got active.

Carry over = 20
swoops (I will only claim 3, my mate was drawing all the attention ) = 3
New total = 23

[Lukeyboy]

Didn't know it was magpie season already

I first got swooped back on 21/07 heading along Westbourne Road out at Samford while heading towards Mt Glorious. Then today I got swooped going through that park linking the Kedron Brook Bike Path to Sandgate road at Toombul. Only realised I was getting swooped when I saw the shadow on the ground. I'll give it a little while before that bastard really starts to get agressive like usual.

[jamesn184]

Well ill open my account for the year
I got swooped by the usual magpie heading up to Mt Bunninyong on the A300
3 swoops with the 3rd having full contact with my helmet
4 points

[Bah77]

Swooped at Land st joining the bike path http://goo.gl/maps/PYwkk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , just heard the flapping, my first ever cycling swooping... so thats something i guess?

[coffeeandwine]

Carry Over = 23
New swoops = 7
New total = 30

Need some hill work as prep for Amy's Gran Fondo, unfortunately the best hill in the area has this ever alert magpie sitting half way up Mt Buninyong.

[coffeeandwine]

Carry Over = 30
Yesterday - laps (10 swoops and one whack) = 12 points
Today - more laps (5 swoops) = 5 points

New Total = 47 points (all one magpie!).

I think the Aversion Therapy is working, both getting desensitised

[BianchiCam]

Still 0! Yay for me....

[open roader]

The magpies have been on a 3 week stop work strike around here. Admittedly I've not ridden often but after an early salvo, not a swoop in over 3 weeks until yesterday........

3 swoops out of no where, did not see it coming, did not see it leaving, but it swooped 3 times........

+ 3 points = Running total 12 points

[Lukeyboy]

I had 2 come after me yesterday. Saw them fly off their perch but due to the speed I was going they just followed behind without swooping before turning back.

[LugNut]

Carry Over = 23
New swoops = 7
New total = 30

Need some hill work as prep for Amy's Gran Fondo, unfortunately the best hill in the area has this ever alert magpie sitting half way up Mt Buninyong.

That's all the motivation you'd need

Is the competition restricted only to magpies?

I was chased for about 500 metres last week by a Staffordshire Terrier as I rode along the off road sections of the Darebin Creek bike path - he was frothing at the mouth mad and giving good chase so I turned straight ahead and hoofed it, by the time it gave up I was nearly ready to ditch the bike and fight!

[open roader]

The black and whites are back in full attack mode with the addition of some spring warmth.

12 swoops in only 36km of riding..... the buggers always seem to appear on uphill sections.......

Running total now doubled to 24 points

[Timbo1]

Magpie on Toukley bridge made contact 4 times didn't even bother with the bluff swoop. Hue Hue Road magpie swooped me the first time after I had just started to eat an apple. Must have looked like a massive knob trying to cycle my way out of that one with an apple in my mouth. That was 6 swoops no contact. Later last week another 5 from same bird. Fortunately Toukley bridge bird was occupied swooping a older gentleman on his mobility scooter as I went by. I know I shouldn't think it was funny but it really was a priceless image. One hand on his hat trying in vain to protect himself the other occupied trying to get his scooter out of the target zone as quickly as possible.

8 contact points
11 no contact points
19 points.

[Timbo1]

Hue Hue Road Maggie again. Four full contact swoops three no contact swoops.
Previous tally 19
+8 contact points
+3 swoop points
=30 points new tally. Angry birds eat your heart out.....
Even left a little hole in the foam of my helmet.

[yarravalleyplodder]

I had a pretty good ride today but went through 3 know areas where those evil birds are known to attack. Lucky for me I only encountered 1, I thought I was safe as I knew I was right on the edge of his territory and swoosh..... scared the hell out of me He came back and for another crack just as I started to head down hill and away from his territory. No helmet whacks this week so thats a bonus

Carry Over= 5
2 x Swoop = 2 points
Current Total = 7 points

[irrelevant_apple]

I've no crazy magpies on my route. These threads got me so paranoid the first magpie I came across looking suspect on a fence had a very serious staring contest with me as I rolled past.

Though I gained my first point! There was malicious intent involved from the feathered critter too! I was passing a family of ducks along the bikeway; Mum, dad and numerous ducklings.

I'm assuming it was Dad that started opening it's beak at me. Then started charging on foot at my front wheel. Ended up having to move rightwards about 1m away. I never felt threatened at any point but did feel well concerned about the welfare of the duck versus my front wheel.

So there you have it. Gosh I have it easy . It's like a warzone out there and I'm busy just avoiding running into ducks

[irrelevant_apple]

oh now that I recall had a noisy miner almost fly into my spokes. So two total points.

On an slightly unrelated note was cruising at night not paying attention. Looked down in time to see a relatively small young toad sitting close to my wheel just off my line. While passing I feel it jump into my foot and my rear wheel suddenly hitting a bump. I didn't have the stomach to turn back and look

I'm starting to think my bikes an animal death magnet or something.

[open roader]

Stuka fest with local magpies today - 9 swoops + 1 contact, kept me very busy this arvo...........

Running total = 35points

[Semar]

Slow start until yesterday - 6 points.

[Tarquin]

I got fully worked over on a 1km stretch.

Two magpies both swooping me, multiple contacts with my helmet. Managed to brush one with a waved arm which spooked him.

Had another up the road who swooped me several times but only got my helmet once, a little more tame.

Had to go back that way, it was going dark and downhill so I pinned it and hoped they would miss me. One did.... The other got a full on whack into my head when I was doing 65kmh on the drops, he got another one in too before I was past his territory!


Has anyone managed to get the council to exterminate a bird before, it's quite dangerous as its on a fast section of road, but 5km or so out of town, one of the birds is very aggressive. Normally ends towards the end of October doesn't it?

[clackers]

First for the year. Doing an Audax ride from Seymour to Nagambie to Murchison on Saturday, four different individuals swooped. I just kept a clenched fist above my head as I exited the territory of each testosterone enraged male to enter the next.

[jasonc]

Had been doing so well. Came home about 15 minutes earlier. magpie in my street. I only heard 1 swoop.

previous total: 1
new points: 1
new total: 2

[capatown]

Where Graceville Ave becomes King Arthur Tce got swooped for the first time ever in nearly a year of riding. (touch wood)

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&l ... 2&t=h&z=17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Total: 1

[jasonc]

awesome

2 maggies within 1km from home.
previous total: 2
new points: 2
new total: 4

[jasonc]

awesome. found a 3rd maggie within 1km from home
3 different maggies, a total of 5 swoops tonight

previous total: 4
new points: 5
new total: 9

another leaderboard I don't want to be on